Program Requirements

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program

Recipients of both the DeBolt Teacher Shortage Scholarship (DTSS) and the IFTC program must fulfill the requirements of the IFTC program.

A recipient of the IFTC program must teach for five years on a full-time basis at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school. Teaching must begin within the one year following the recipient's termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship, and continue until the obligation is fulfilled. The recipient's teaching must fulfill the commitment/agreement that he or she signed prior to receiving the program benefits, e.g., if you made a commitment to teach in a teacher shortage discipline and/or at a hard to staff school, you are fulfilling your five years of teaching accordingly.

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate in a course of study related to a field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school, for one continuous period of time—which shall not exceed two years in duration

To qualify for any of these extensions, the recipeint must provide written evidence of eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s) prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, the recipient will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate is 5 percent.

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after the recipient stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher in a designated teacher shortage discipline
• The date ISAC is informed that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Pursuing a graduate course of study and enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years
• Actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but remain enrolled at least half-time in another academic discipline for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

DeBolt Teachers Shortage Scholarship Program (DTSS)

A recipient of both the DeBolt Teacher Shortage Scholarship (DTSS) and the IFTC program must fulfill the requirements of the IFTC program.

A DTSS scholarship recipient must teach one year on a full-time basis in a designated teacher shortage discipline for each academic year, or a portion of the academic year, for which the DTSS award was received. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at an Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school. The teaching obligation nust be fulfilled within five years following the recipient's termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship.

Extensions

The five-year period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if the recipient is:   

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate in a course of study related to a field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary, or secondary school, for one continuous period of time—which shall not exceed two years in duration
• Taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to gain ISBE approval to teach in a specialized teacher shortage discipline

To qualify for any of these extensions, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s) prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, the recipient will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate for repayment is determined in accordance with federal regulations for the highest rate applicable to new student loans under the FFEL Program.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after the recipient stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher in a designated teacher shortage discipline
• The date ISAC is informed that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Pursuing a graduate course of study and enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years
• Actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but remain enrolled at least half-time in another academic discipline for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

An MTI scholarship recipient must teach one year on a full-time basis for each academic year, or portion of an academic year, in which the MTI Scholarship award was received. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school, at which no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are minority students as certified by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Teaching must begin within one year following termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship, and continue until the teaching obligation is fulfilled.

Extensions

The period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate student in a course of study related to their field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school, at which no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are minority students as certified by ISBE, for a single period, not to exceed two years in duration
• Taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois

To qualify for any of these extensions, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after the recipient stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher
• The date ISAC is informed that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period shall be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification as a teacher, but remain enrolled full-time in another academic discipline

To qualify for any of these deferments, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

An SETTW recipient must teach two years on a full-time basis in the field of special education for any assistance received through the SETTW program. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school beginning within one year and continue for two of the five years immediately following graduation or termination of enrollment.

Extensions

The period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time in an academic program related to the field of teaching, leading to a graduate or postgraduate degree
• Temporarily totally disabled for a period of time not to exceed three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at an Illinois nonprofit public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school for one continuous period, not to exceed two years, and are able to provide evidence of that fact
• Taking additional courses on at least a half-time basis, in order to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois

To qualify for any of these extensions, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the extensions.

Repayment

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the amount received through the tuition waiver converts to a loan, and the recipient must repay the entire amount prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, the recipient will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate is 5 percent.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after the recipient stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to initial certification as a teacher in Special Education
• The date ISAC is informed that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching in order to complete the teaching obligation within the prescribed timeframe

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the waiver, the repayment period shall be completed within five years after the waiver converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if the recipient is:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily and totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment for one continuous period not to exceed two years, and able to provide evidence of that fact
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to a teacher certification in Special Education, but remain enrolled full-time in another academic discipline
• Pursuing a graduate or postgraduate degree and are enrolled on a full- time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Illinois Optometric Education Scholarship Program

An Optometric Education Scholarship Program recipient must practice in Illinois as a licensed optometrist for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance received. The recipient must also begin practicing optometry in Illinois within one year following completion of the academic program for which he or she was awarded the scholarship and practice on a continuous basis until the obligation is fully completed.

Extensions

A recipient will not be in violation of the agreement during periods in which he or she:

• Is serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Is enrolled full-time in a residency program at an approved institution for one continuous period of time, not to exceed one year, following graduation
• Is temporarily totally disabled for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Cannot fulfill the practice obligation due to his or her death, verified by a certified copy of a death certificate; or cannot fulfill the practice obligation due to disability or incompetency, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician

To qualify for any of these extensions, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

If the requirement to practice optometry in Illinois is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s), prorated according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5 percent, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• The first day of the first calendar month after the recipient has ceased to pursue a course of study leading to certification as an optometrist;
• The date the recipient informs ISAC that he or she does not plan to fulfill the practice obligation; or
• The day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun practicing as an optometrist after completing the education for which the scholarship was awarded.

Deferments

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time in a residency program at an approved institution for one continuous period of time, not to exceed one year, following graduation
• Temporarily disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician

To qualify for any of these deferments, the recipient must provide written evidence of eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

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